Living Your Values

Going vegan may seem like one of the biggest changes of your life. Interestingly, going vegan isn’t about changing who you are – it’s about being who you truly are. You’re not leaving your values behind. If anything, by living vegan you are a shining example of living your values. We share values of justice, kindness, and compassion. Living vegan puts those values into action every day, with every food choice.

"Where do I start!?" It's as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Commit.

Vegan is a state of mind. It’s up to you to decide not to participate in the cruelty and wastefulness of animal agribusiness. It’s up to you to fill your life with vegan abundance. Commit, overcome challenges, recommit, and make it stick. You can do it!

2. Learn How

While choosing vegan becomes easy with time, those new to the lifestyle might be a little overwhelmed by all the information. As with anything new, a new way of eating and living can take some adjustment. But just like riding a bike, it will get easier with time and experience. Soon living vegan will become second nature.

3. Practice & Grow

Living vegan can be fun! You’ll find animal-free items all around you in grocery stores, in restaurants, and online. Share your favorites with friends and family. It’s a big vegan world. Have fun exploring!

TIP! > Take the Pledge. Pledge to start and promise that you’ll keep trying. Commit or re-commit by taking the Live Vegan Pledge. Choosing vegan foods, even one day per week, could be the first step toward one of the most powerful, positive, far-reaching decisions of your life.

TIP! > Make the Switch. Enjoy familiar tastes and textures simply by choosing cruelty-free, plant-based versions of animal-based foods. Start by exploring Make the Switch to see how easy it is. Most major grocery stores carry plant-based convenience foods like veggie meats, dairy-free milks, ice creams, and more.

TIP! > Use the buddy system!For support and to make your transition more fun, explore vegan living with a friend. See Social Situations for tips on living vegan in a non-vegan world; and see our resources and links for ideas for finding and building community.

Live Joyfully

For many, there is something almost magical about living vegan. There is happiness and sense of completeness that comes with living our lives aligned with our values.

People from all walks of life and with vastly different life stories are choosing to live vegan. And while we are all individuals and each of our paths are unique, there are a few common and recurring issues with which new and even experienced vegans sometimes struggle: feeling angry about things we discover about animal agribusiness, staying happy and joyful for ourselves and with our friends, and overcoming compassion overload (feeling like you just can’t give any more).

By living vegan, you’ve already transformed your anger into compassion and put justice into action. It’s a daily exercise in gratitude and positive direction. If you’re like many of us who have decided to live vegan, the way in which you now see the interconnected world is probably more clear and profound. While being vegan often starts as a reaction to the horrors around us and a declaration to no longer be a part of the violence inflicted on others; many vegans come to truly live a joyful, more connected life.

Remember the Animals

The numbers of lives taken by the animal agribusiness industry can be overwhelming and even unimaginable. Rather than focus on the statistics, it's helpful to remember that the staggering numbers are made up of individuals. When you get to know farmed animals, you’ll quickly find that they each have their own personalities, their own quirks, their own ways. And each has a deep desire to live.

If there isn't a farmed animal sanctuary near you, explore online to meet animals who were rescued from the fear and darkness of animal agribusiness to live out their lives surrounded by love.

Keep Trying!

Living vegan isn't always easy. But then, doing the right thing isn't always easy. But it's one of the most far-reaching personal, practical, and ethical choices you can make.

You will face challenges on the vegan path -- challenges from your family and friends, and even from yourself. Maybe you'll battle cravings. Maybe you'll just want things to be easier. It might help to remember that the animals never get a day off. It might also help to remember that YOU are making a profound difference in the world. Your individual choices are helping to build the world of tomorrow -- a world of justice, kindness, and compassion.

If you stumble, keep trying! Live as if lives depend upon you... because they do.

We're here to help. Visit LiveVegan.org to find much more information, hundreds of resources, links to thousands of recipes, answers to your most pressing questions, and tips for living vegan in a not-yet-vegan world.